March 6 — Saints Perpetua and Felicitas

committed against Him ? Thou didst prefer death to sin ; obtain for us a fear of sin, that greatest of all the evils that can befall us, because it is an evil which strikes at God Himself. Pray for us during this holy season, which is intended as a preparation for penance; impress our minds with the truths now put before us. The Christian world is honouring thee to-day ; repay its homage by thy blessing. Poland, thy fatherland, is in mourning ; comfort her. She was once the bulwark of the Church, and kept back the* invasion of schism, heresy, and infidelity ; and now she is crushed by tyrants, who seek to rob her of her faith. Pray for her that she may be freed from her oppressors, and, by regaining her ancient zeal for the faith, be preserved from the apostasy into which her enemies are seeking to drive her.

March 6

SAINTS PEBPETUA AND FELICITAS, MARTYES

The real feast of these two illustrious heroines of the faith is to-morrow, which is the anniversary of their martyrdom and triumph ; but the memory of the angel of the schools, St. Thomas of Aquin, shines so brightly on the seventh of March, that it almost eclipses the two glorious stars of Africa. In consequence of this, the Holy See allows certain Churches to anticipate their feast, and keep it to-day. We take advantage of this permission, and at once offer to the Christian reader the glorious spectacle of which Carthage was the scene in the year 208. Nothing could give us a clearer idea of that spirit of the Gospel, according to which we are now studying to conform our whole life. Here are two women, two mothers ; God asks great sacrifices from them ; He asks them to give Him their lives, nay, more than their lives ; and they obey with that simplicity and devotedness which made Abraham merit to be the father of believers.

Their two names, as St. Augustine observes, are a presage of what awaits them in heaven : a perpetual felicity. The example they set of Christian fortitude, is, of itself, a victory, which secures to the true faith a triumph in the land of Africa. St. Cyprian will soon follow them, with his bold and eloquent appeal to the African Christians, inspiring them to die for their faith : . but his words, grand as they are, are less touching than the few pages written by the hand of the brave Perpetua, who, though only twenty-two years of age, relates, with all the self-possession of an angel, the trials she had to go through for God ; and when she has to hurry off to the amphitheatre, she puts her pen into another's hand, bidding him go on where she leaves off, and write the rest of the battle. As we read these charming pages, we seem to be in the company of the martyrs ; the power of divine grace, which could produce such heroism amidst a people demoralized by paganism, appears so great that even we grow courageous ; and the very fact that the instruments employed by God for the destruction of the pagan world were frequently women, induces us to say with St. John Chrysostom: 'I feel an indescribable pleasure in reading the "Acts of the Martyrs " ; but when the martyr is a woman, my enthusiasm is doubled. For the frailer the instrument, the greater is the grace, the brighter the trophy, the grander the victory ; and this, not because of her weakness, but because the devil is conquered by her, by whom he once conquered us. He conquered by a woman, and now a woman conquers him. She that was once his weapon, is now his destroyer, brave and invincible. That first one sinned, and died ; this one died that she might not sin. Eve was flushed by a lying promise, and broke the law of God ; our heroine disdained to live, when her living was to depend on her breaking her faith to Him who was her dearest Lord. What excuse, after this, for men, if they be soft and cowards ? Can they hope for pardon, when women fought the holy battle with such brave, and manly, and generous hearts ?' 1

The lessons appointed to be read on the feast of our two saints, give us the principal incidents of their martyrdom. The passage from the account written by Perpetua herself, which is quoted in these lessons, will make some of our readers long to read the whole of what she has left us. They will find it in our first volume of the ' Acts of the Martyrs.'

Severo imperatore, apprehensi sunt in Africa adolescentes catechumeni, Revocatus et Felicitas conserva ejus, Saturninus et Secundulus : inter quos et Vivia Perpetua, honeste nata, liberaliter instituta, matronaliter nupta, habens filium ad ubera. Erat autem ipsa annorum circiter viginti duorum. Haec ordinem martyrii sui conscriptum manu sua reliquit. Quum adhuc, inquit, cum persecutoribus essemus, et me pater avertere, pro sua affectione, perseveraret : Pater, inquio, aliud me dicere non possum, nisi quod sum Christiana. Tunc pater, motus in hoc verbo, misit se in me, ut oculos mini erueret. Sed vexavit

During the reign of the Emperor Severus, several catechumens were apprehended at Carthage, in Africa. Among these were Revocatus and his fellow- servant Felicitas, Saturninus and Secundulus, and Vivia Perpetua, a lady by birth and education, who was married to a man of wealth. Perpetua was about twenty-two years of age, and was suckling an infant. She has left us the following particulars of her martyrdom. * As soon as our persecutors had apprehended us, my father came to me, and out of his great love for me, he tried to make me change my resolution. I said to him : " Father, I cannot consent to call myself other than what I am,

1 Homil. de diver sis novi Testamenti locis. tantum ; et prof ectus est victus cum argumentis diaboli. In spatio paucorum dierum baptizati sunius : mihi autem Spiritus dicta vit nihil aliud petendum in aqua, nisi sufferentiam carnis. Post paucos dies, recipimur in carcerem : et expavi, quia nunquam experta eram tales tenebras. Mox rumor cucurrit ut audiremur. Super venit autem et de civitate pater meus, consumptus tsedio ; et ascendit ad me, ut me dejiceret, dicens : Miserere, filia, canis meis ; miserere patri, si dignus sum a te pater vocari. Aspice ad fratres tuos, aspice ad matrem tuam : aspice ad filium tuum, qui post te vivere non poterit. Depone animos, ne universos nos extermines. Haec dicebat pater pro sua pietate : se ad pedes meos jactans, et lacrymis non fiham, sed dominant me vocabat. Et ego dolebam canos patris mei : quod solus de passione mea gavisurus non esset de toto genere meo. Et confortavi eum, dicens : Hoc net quod Deus voluerit. Scito enim nos non in nostra potestate esse constitutos, sed in Dei. Et recessit a me contristatus. a Christian." At these words, he rushed at me threatening to tear out my eyes. But he only struck me, and then he left me, when he found that the arguments suggested to him by the devil, were of no avail. A few days after this, we were baptized ; and the Holy Ghost inspired me to look on this Baptism as a preparation for bodily suffering. A few more days elapsed, and we were sent to prison. I was terrified, for I was not accustomed to such darkness. The report soon spread that we were to be brought to trial..' My father left the city, for he was heartbroken, and he came to me, hoping to shake my purpose. These were his words to me : "My child, have pity on my old age. Have pity on thy father, if I deserve to be called father. Think of thy brothers, think of thy mother, think of thy son, who cannot live when thou art gone. Give up this mad purpose, or thou wilt bring misery upon thy family." Whilst saying this, which he did out of love for me, he threw himself at my feet, and wept bitterly, and said he besought this of me not as his child, but as his lady. I was moved to tears to see my aged parent in this, grief, for I knew that he was the only one of my family that would not rejoice at my being a martyr. I tried to console him, and said : " I will do whatsoever God shall ordain. Thou knowest that we belong to God, and not to ourselves. ' ' He then left me, and was very sad.

Alio die, quum pranderemus, subito rapti sumus ut audiremur : et perveniruus ad forum. Ascendimus in catasta. Interrogati caeteri confessi sunt. Ventum est et ad me. Et apparuit pater illico cum filio meo : et extraxit me de gradu, et dixit supplicans: Miserere infantL Et Hilarianus procurator : Parce, inquit, canis patris tui, parce infante pueri : f ac sacrum pro salute imperatorum. Et ego respondi : Non facio : Christiana sum. Tunc nos universos pronuntiat et damnat ad bestias: et hilares descendimus ad carcerem. Sed quia consueverat a me infans mammas accipere, et mecum in carcere manere, statim mitto ad patrem, postulans infantem. Sed pater dare noluit: et, quomodo Deus voluit, neque ille amplius mammas desideravit, neque mihi fervorem fecerunt. Atque hoc scripsit beata Perpetua usque in pridie certaminis. Felicitas vero, quae praegnans octo jam mensium fuerat apprehensa, instante spectaculi die, in magno erat luctu, ne propter ventrem differretur. Sed et commartyres ejus graviter contristabantur, ne tarn bonam sociam in via ejusdem spei relinquerent. Conjuncto itaque gemitu, ad Dominum orationem fuderunt ante tertium diem muneris. Statim post orationem dolores earn invaserunt. Et quum in par-

• On the following day, as we were taking our repast, they came upon us suddenly, and summoned us to trial. We reached the forum. We were made to mount a platform. My companions were questioned, and they confessed the faith. My turn came next, and I immediately saw my father approaching towards me, holding my infant son. He drew me from the platform, and besought me, saying : "Have pity on thy babe!" Hilarian, too, the governor, said to me : " Have pity on thy aged father, have pity on thy babe! Offer up sacrifice for the emperors." I answered him : "I cannot; I am a Christian." Whereupon, he sentences all of us to be devoured by the wild beasts ; and we, full of joy, return to our prison. But as I had hitherto always had my child with me in prison, and fed him at my breasts, I immediately sent word to my father, beseeching him to let * him come to me. He refused; and from that moment, neither the babe asked for the breast, nor did I suffer inconvenience ; for God thus willed it.' All this is taken from the written account left us by the blessed Perpetua, and it brings us to the day before she was put to death. As regards Felicitas, she was in the eighth month of her pregnancy, when she was apprehended. The day of the public shows was near at hand, and the fear that her martyrdom would be deferred on account of her being with child, tu laborans doleret, ait illi quidam ex ministris : Quae martys, sic modo doles, quid facies objecta bestiis, quas contempsisti quum sacrificare noluisti ? Et ilia respondit : Modo ego patior quod patior : illic autem alius erit in me qui patietur pro me; quia et ego pro illo passura sum. Ita enixa est puellam, quam sibi quaedam soror in filiam educavit. Felici- made her very sad. Her fellowtoo, felt much for her, for they could not bear the thought of seeing so worthy a companion disappointed in the hope, she had in common with themselves, of so soon reaching heaven. Uniting, therefore, in prayer, they with tears besought God in her behalf. It was but three days before the public shows. No sooner was their prayer ended, than tas was seized with pain. One of the gaolers, who overheard her moaning, cried out : * If this pain seem to thee so great, what wilt thou do when thou art being devoured by the wild beasts, which thou pretendedst to heed not when thou wast told to offer sacrifice.' She answered : * What I am suffering now, it is indeed I that suffer ; but there, there will be another in me, who will suffer for me, because I shall be suffering for him.' She was delivered of a daughter, and one of our sisters adopted the infant as her own.

Illuxit dies victories illorum : et processerunt de carcere in amphitheatrum, quasi in cesium, hilares, vultu decori : si forte, gaudio paventes, non timore. Sequebatur Perpetua plavultu, et pedum incessu ut matrona Christi dilecta : vigorem oculorum gait, suorum dejiciens ab omnium conspectu. Item Felicitas, salvam se peperisse gaudens, ut ad bestias pugnaret. Illis ferocissiinam vaccam diabolus prsepa- Felicitas,

The day of their victory dawned. They left their prison for the amphitheatre, cheerful, and with faces beaming with joy, as though they were going to heaven. They were excited, but it was from delight, not cido from fear. The last in the group was Perpetua. Her placid look, her noble betrayed the Christian matron, She passed through the crowd and saw no one, for her beautiful eyes were fixed upon the ground. By her side was rejoicing that her ravit. Itaque reticulis indutse producuntur. Inducitur prior Perpetua. Jactata est et concidit in lumbos : et ut conspexit tunicam a latere discissam ad velamentum femorum adduxit, pudoris potius memor quam doloris. Dehine requisita et dispersos capillos infibulavit. Non enini decebat martyreni dispersis capillis pati : ne in sua gloria plangere videretur. Ita surrexit ; et elisam Felicitatem quum vidisset, accessit et manum ei tradidit, et sublevavit illam. Et ambae pariter steterunt : et populi duritia devicta, revocatae sunt in portam Sanavivariam. Ilhc Perpetua, quasi a somno expergita, adeo in spiritu et extasi fuerat, circumspicere coepit : et stupentibus omnibus, ait : Quando producimur ad vaccam illam, nescio. Et quum audisset quod jam evenerat ; non prius credidit, nisi quasdam notas vexationis in corpore et habitu suo recognovisset. Exinde accersitum fratrem suum, et catechumenum Busticum nomine, allocuta est eos, dicens : In fide state, et invicem omnes diligite ; et passionibus nostris ne scandalizemini.

Secundulum Deus maturiore exitu de saeculo adhuc safe delivery enabled her to encounter the wild beasts. The devil had prepared a savage cow for them. They were put into a net. Perpetua was brought forward the first. She was tossed into the air, and fell upon her back. Observing that one side of her dress was torn, she adjusted it, heedless of her pain, because thoughtful for modesty. Having recovered from the fall, she put up her hair which was dishevelled by the shock, for it was not seemly that a martyr should win her palm and have the appearance of one distracted by grief. This done, she stood up. Seeing Felicitas thrown down she went to her, and giving her hand to her, raised her from the ground. Both were now ready for a fresh attack; but the people were moved to pity, and the martyrs were led to the gate called Sana - Vivaria. There Perpetua, like one that is roused from sleep, awoke from the deep ecstasy of her spirit. She looked around her, and said to the astonished multitude : 4 When will the cow attack us?' They told her that it had already attacked them. She could not believe it, until her wounds and torn dress reminded her of what had happened. Then beckoning to her brother, and to a catechumen named Rusticus, she thus spoke to them: 4 Be stanch in the faith, and love one another, and be not shocked at our sufferings.'

God had already taken Secundulus from this world; in carcere evocaverat. Saturninus et Revocatus leopardum experti, etiam ab urso vexati sunt. Saturus apro oblatus est ; deinde ad ursum tractus, qui de cavea prodire noluit : itaque bis illsesus revocatur. In fine spectaculi, leopardo objectus, deuno morsu ejus tanto perfusus est sanguine, ut populus revertenti illi secundi Baptismatis testimonium reclamaverit : Salvum lotum, salvum lotum. Exinde jam exanimis, prosternitur cum cseteris ad jugulationem solito loco. Et quum populus illos in medium postularet, ut gladio penetrante in eorem corpore, oculos suos comites homicidii adjungeret; ultro surrexerunt, et se quo volebat populus transtulerunt : ante jam osculati invicem, ut martyrium per solemnia pacis consummarent. Caeteri quidem immobiles et cum silentio ferrum receperunt : multo magis Saturus, qui prior reddidit spiritum. Perpetua autem, ut aliquid doloris gustaret, inter costas puncta exululavit ; et errantem dexteram tirunculi gladiatoris ipsa in jugulum suum posuit. Fortasse tanta femina aliter non potuisset occidi, quia ab immundo spiritu timebatur, nisi ipsa voluisset.

' for he died while he was in the prison. Saturninus and Revocatus were exposed first to a leopard, and then to a bear. Saturus was exposed to a boar, and then to a bear, which would not come out of its den ; thus was he twice left uninjured; but at the close of the games, he was thrown to a leopard, which bit him so severely, that he was all covered with blood, and as he was taken from the amphitheatre, the people jeered at him for this second Baptism, and said : ' Saved, washed ! Saved, washed !' He was then carried off, dying as he was, to the appointed place, there to be dispatched by the sword, with the rest. But the people demanded that they should be led back to the middle of the amphitheatre, that their eyes might feast on the sight, and watch the sword as it pierced them. The martyrs hearing their request, cheerfully stood up, and marched to the place where the people would have them go; but first they embraced one another, that the sacrifice of their martyrdom might be consummated with the solemn kiss of peace. They all received the fatal stroke without a movement or a moan; Saturus being the first to expire. Perpetua was permitted to feel more than the rest. Her executioner, who was a novice in his work, thrust his sword through her ribs: she slightly moaned, then took his right hand, and pointing his 8 word towards her throat, told him that that was the place to strike. Perhaps it was that such a woman could not be otherwise slain than by her own consent, for the unclean spirit feared her.

The Holy See has approved of the three following hymns composed in honour of our two martyrs. We unite them under one conclusion.

HYMN

Christi sponsa piis laudibus efferat Binas impavido pectore fe- minas : In sexu fragili corda virilia Hymnis pangat ovantibus.

Ad lucem genitae sole sub Africo,

Nunc ambae pugiles actibus inclytis In toto radiant orbe : micantibus Fulgent tempora laureis. Exornat generis Perpetuam decus ; Sponso connubiis juncta re- centibus Clarescit ; sed honor hanc trahit altior : Christi foedera prsetulit. Se Eegis famulam libera t profitens, Dum servile juguin Felicitas subit :

Ad luctam properans gressibus seroulis, Palmas ad similes volat. Frustra Perpetuam fletibus et minis Impugnat genitor : quae simul angitur,

Let the Church, the bride of Christ, celebrate in holy praise, the two dauntless women ; and sing, in joyous hymns, how the weaker sex had here two manly hearts.

Both were born in Afric's sunny land; and now both shine throughout the whole world as the two glorious combatants, wearing bright laurels on their brows.

Perpetua is honoured by her fellow-citizens as being of high birth, and had but recently contracted an honourable marriage. But there was an honour far higher, in her eyes, the love and service of Christ.

Felicitas, though she served an earthly master, was free in this, that she was a servant of the great King. Like Perpetua, she thirsts for battle ; and like her, she culls a palm.

In vain did Perpetua's father strive, by tears and threats, to make her deny her faith. She, on her side was full of grief,

Errantem miserans. Oscula filio

Lactenti dedit ultima.

Terris Eva parens quae mala contulit, Horum sentit onus Felicitas grave;

Nunc et passa sibi parturiens gemit, Mox passura Deo libens.

Coeli Perpetuse panditur ostium ; Inspectare datur : jam sibi praelia

Exortura videt ; sed requiem Deus

Post certamina conferet. Tangit scala domos aurea coelitum : Ast utrumque latus cuspi- dibus riget ; Lapsos terribihs faucibus excipit Hanc infra recubans draco.

Ascendas, mulier, nec draco terreat ; Contritumque caput sit tibi pro gradu, Per quern sidereos incipias pede

Orbes scandere concito. Hortus deliciis jam patet affluens, In quo mulget oves pastor amabilis : Hue optata venis, filia : sic . ait,

Hanc dulci recreans cibo.

In circum rapitur : fcedus et horrida Occurrit specie vir gladium vibrans ; and pity at seeing him a victim of error. Her babe was taken from her ; she kissed him and was content.

Felicitas begins her sufferings by those cruel pangs which Eve, our mother, brought upon the earth. Now, in child-birth, she suffers for herself, and she moans ; but, in her martyrdom, she suffers for her God, and she rejoices.

The gate of heaven is thrown open to Perpetua, and she is permitted to look within. She there learns that a contest awaits her, but that, after the battle, God will grant her repose.

She sees a golden ladder reaching to the palace of heaven ; but both its sides are armed with spikes, and at its foot lies an angry dragon, which devours them that fall.

Ascend, Perpetua! fear not the dragon. Trample on his head, and make it a steppingstone, whereby thou mayst quickly mount to the starry land above.

There shalt thou find a paradise of delights, where the loving shepherd caresses his sheep. 'Thou art welcome here, my daughter!' Thus did he address the martyr, and then gave her to eat of sweetest food.

In another vision, she thought she was hurried to the amphitheatre. There she was met by a man, whose face was

Dejectus teritur femineo pede.

Victrix, suscipe praemia.

Luxit clara dies, vincere qua datur Athletis Domini. Pergite martyres : Omnia Perpetuam curia co3litum, Et te, Felicitas, cupit. Quassat Perpetuae membra tenerrima, Elidit sociam bellua. Te soror

Stans, o Felicitas, ad nova praelia Erectam reparat manu. E coelo pugilum respiciens

Deus

Certamen, geminas ad bra- vium vocat. Emiso properet sanguine spiritus, In Christi remeans sinum. Optatus penetrat corpora martyrum Lictoris gladius : sed tre- pidam manum Fortis Perpetuae dextera di- rigit,

Praebens guttura cuspidi. Nunc, o magnanimae, gaudia quae manent In Sponsi thalamo carpite jugiter. Vos exempla dedi't: praesidium potens Vestris ferte clientibus. Laus aeterna Patri, laus quoque Filio ; Par individuo gloria Flamini ; swarth and terrible to look at. He brandished his sword. She encountered him, threw him on the ground, and trampled on his head. A cry was heard : 1 Thou hast conquered I Come, take the prize V

But at length came the glorious day of victory for the soldiers of Christ. On, martyrs, to the field I Perpetua and Felicitas ! the court of heaven is longing to receive you!

The wild beast rushes upon them, tossing, tearing, and wounding their tender limbs. See, Felicitas I thy sister's hand emboldens thee to renew the fight.

God looks down from heaven on the two brave combatants, and calls them to the prize. Their blood streams from the wounds, and their spirits speed their way to the bosom of Christ.

The sword, the welcome sword, is thrust; the martyrs die, all save Perpetua ; bravely she takes the trembling lictor's hand, and offering him her neck, tells him his surest aim is there.

Go now, brave-hearted ones, to him who is your Spouse, and there eternally enjoy the bliss he has in store for you. He gave you to us as models ; Oh, show your power, and help us your clients.

Eternal glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the coequal Spirit ! And let every choir in Christian

SEBTUAGESIMA

In cunctis resonet Christia- lands sound forth its praise dum choris to the grace bestowed on the

Virtus martyribus data. martyrs. Amen. Amen.

Perpetua ! Felicitas ! 0 glorious and prophetic names, which come like two bright stars of March, pouring out upon us your rays of light and life ! You are heard in the songs of the angels ; and we poor sinners, as we echo them on earth, are told to love and hope. You remind us of that brave woman, who, as the Scripture says, kept up the battle begun by men : The valiant men ceased : who will follow them ? A mother in Israel. 1 Glory be to that almighty power, which loves to choose the weak things of the world that it may confound the strong! 2 Glory to the Church of Africa, the daughter of the Church of Eome ; and glory to the Church of Carthage, which had not then heard the preachings of her Cyprian, and yet could produce two such noble hearts !

As to thee, Perpetua, thou art held in veneration by the whole Christian world. Thy name is mentioned by God's priests in the holy Mass, and thus thy memory is associated with the sacrifice of the Man-God, for love of whom thou didst lay down thy life. And those pages written by thine own hand, how they reveal to us the generous character of thy soul ! How they comment those words of the Canticle : Love is strong as death ! 3 It was thy love of God that made thee suffer, and die, and conquer. Even before the water of Baptism had touched thee, thou wast enrolled among the martyrs. When the hard trial came of resisting a father, who wished thee to lay down the palm of martyrdom, how bravely didst thou triumph over thy filial affection, in order to save that which is due to our Father who is in heaven! Nay, when the hardest

1 Judges v. 7. * 1 Cor. i. 27. 3 Cant. viii. 6. test came, when the babe that fed at thy breast was taken from thee in thy prison, even then thy love was strong enough for the sacrifice, as was Abraham's, when he had to immolate his Isaac.

Thy fellow-martyrs deserve our admiration ; they are so grand in their courage ; but thou, dear saint, surpassest them all. Thy love makes thee more than brave in thy sufferings, it makes thee forget them. ' Where wast thou,' we would ask thee in the words of St. Augustine, * where wast thou, that thou didst 'not feel the goading of that furious beast, asking when it was to be, as though it had not been? Where wast thou? What didst thou .see, that made thee see not this ? On what wast thou feasting, that made thee dead to sense ? What was the love that absorbed, what was the sight that distracted, what was the chalice that inebriated thee ? And yet the ties of flesh were still holding thee, the claims of death were still upon thee, the corruptible body was still weighing thee down!' 1 But our Lord had prepared thee for the final struggle, by asking sacrifice at thy hands. This made thy life wholly spiritual, and gave thy soul to dwell, by love, with Him, who had asked thee for all and received it ; and thus living in union with Jesus, thy spirit was all but a stranger to the body it animated.

It was impatient to be wholly with its sovereign Good. Thy eager hand directs the sword that is to set thee free ; and as the executioner severs the last tie that holds thee, how voluntary was thy sacrifice, how hearty thy welcome of death ! Truly, thou wast the valiant, the strong woman, 2 that conqueredst the wicked serpent ! Thy greatness of soul has merited for thee a high place among the heroines of our holy faith, and for sixteen hundred

1 Sermon for the feast of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas.

2 Prov. xxxi. 10. years thou hast been honoured by the enthusiastic devotion and love of the servants of God.

And thou, too, Felicitas ! receive the homage of our veneration, for thou wast found worthy to be a fellow-martyr with Perpetua. Though she was a rich matron of Carthage, and thou a servant, yet Baptism and martyrdom made you companions and sisters. The lady and the slave embraced, for martyrdom made you equal ; and as the spectators saw you hand in hand together, they must have felt that there was a power in the religion they persecuted, which would put an end to slavery. The power and grace of Jesus triumphed in thee, as it did in Perpetua ; and thus was fulfilled thy sublime answer to the pagan, who dared to jeer thee : that when the hour of trial came, it would not be thou that wouldst suffer, but Christ who would suffer in thee. Heaven is now the reward of thy sacrifice ; well didst thou merit it. And that babe, that was born in thy prison, what a happy child to have for its mother a martyr in heaven ! How wouldst thou bless both it and the mother who adopted it ! Oh, what fitness, in such a soul as thine, for the kingdom of God! 1 Not once looking back, but ever bravely speeding onwards to Him that called thee. Thy felicity is perpetual in heaven ; thy glory on earth shall never cease.

And now, dear saints, Perpetua and Felicitas, intercede for us during this season of grace. Go, with your palms in your hands, to the throne of God, and beseech Him to pour down His mercy upon us. It is true, the days of paganism are gone by; and there are no persecutors clamouring for our blood. You, and countless other martyrs, have won victory for faith ; and that faith is now ours ; we are Christians. But there is a second paganism, which has taken deep root among us. It is the 1 St. Luke ix. 62.